Beginner's guide to practical aromatherapy

Feel refreshed with peppermint oil

2006-01-05T03:19:00.000-08:00

PEPPERMINT THE REFRESHING OIL

Cure yourself with this essential oil:-

This refreshing, clean-scented oil is beneficial for the digestive and respiratory systems.
It is also reviving, and can help cure fatigue, headache and migraine.
It is also used for curing problems like Asthma, colic, exhaustion, fever, flatulence, headache, nausea, scabies, sinusitis, vertigo.

Peppermint is aromatically described as:-

Minty
reminiscent of peppermint candies
concenterated

Botanical name for Peppermint is :-

Botanical Name of Peppermint : Mentha piperita

20 safe and useful aromatheraphy oils

2006-01-05T02:41:00.000-08:00

Twenty safe and useful aromatheraphy oils and the ailments and conditions they can be used to treat The oils listed in this table are among the most widely used and readily available. Essential oils should not be applied to the skin undiluted or taken internally unless specifically prescribed by a medically qualified advser.

List of oils:-

PEPPERMINT
YARROW
EUCALYPTUS
FRANKKINCENSE
GERANIUM
GINGER
JASMINE
MANDARIN
ROSEMARY
JUNIPER
NEROLI
LAVENDAR
CLARY SAGE
LEMON
ROMAN CHAMOLIE
GRAPE FRUIT
ROSE
SANDALWOOD
TEA TREE
YLANG-YLANG

I will be discussing about each oil in my further posts.

Note:- Please make a note of these 20 essential oils or else remove a print out and keep for yourself and keep as a ready list for your personal use.

Natural aromatic shampoo for your hair

2006-01-03T01:09:00.000-08:00

Aritha or the Soap Nut:-

ARITHA (Sapindus trifoliatus) also known as soapnut, can clean the hair and imparts shine to dull hair.

Contents of Aritha:-

It contains tannic acid,
vitamin C and resins.

Natural cures:-

And these react with hair to stop hair loss, prevent dandruff, prevents scalp and hair follicle damage and stops hair loss.

A Gift Of Nature,

It Cleans The Skin Thoroughly and used as a Shampoo Excellent In Washing Hair, Gives Hair A Natural Gloss & Beautiful Bounce. Recomended For Washing Silk, Wollen Clothes, Silver & Gold Ornaments & Utensils.

Aritha has it's origin thousands of years ago and has been use as a natural shampoo for all types of hair.

Where to buy aritha nuts?

Few places to list;

grocery stores
aryuvedic departments
local shopkeepers
huge vegetable or grocery markets
online purchasing (start with search engines!)

Natural aromatic aritha shampoo:-

Make your own..

Items needed:-

Aritha soap nuts (dried ones)
Lukewarm water
Concenterated amla oil (2 drops) - optional*

Method:-

Soak aritha nuts in lukwarm water for 2 days
Add 2 drops of amla oil
Use after 2 days by peeling off the soap nut skin and using as a natural hair conditionar by squeezing the nuts and using the frothy shampoo

Note:- Aritha is the best shampoo for any kind of hair and has no harmful effects on your hair.

Use aritha nuts instead of those powders avaiable for being on safer side free from adulteration.

Multipurpose uses of lavendar

2005-12-31T06:32:00.000-08:00

Scent up your bedroom with the fragrance of lavendar

The simplest way of perfuming your bedroom, is to surround your room with lavendar shrub pots or else loose bunches of lavendar flowers in a decorative vase. Another way out is to hang up lavendar shrub placed in cane vases and thus decorate your sweet room by spreading fragrance and give a twin effect and decoration cum sweet scent.
Have a cozy feeling underneath your pillows

Place dried lavendar flowers underneath your pillow or else stuff lavendar flowers inside your pillow and while sleeping have a cozy cum sweet feeling and enjoy your dreams easily with the relaxation properties of magical lavendar.Choose pretty cottons and silks to match the decor of the bedroom and edge them with lace or ribbon and match as per your prefrences and contrast your bedroom wall paint colour with your pillow and bed sheets.
Express your writings with lavendar!
LAVENDER INK
Scented ink will give a delicate, intangible fragrance to your personal letters, cards and with a fragrance that will spread out as soon as the envelope is opened and sweet fragrance will make your words give a divine feeling of utter sweetness.

Spice up your life with the wonders of Lavendar
LAVENDAR AS FOOD
Uses of Lavendar in your Kitchen
Lavendar is now-a-days used in food preparations namely, honey, lemonade, sweets like cookies or biscuits, tea etc.

"Know more about Lavendar"

2005-12-31T03:27:00.000-08:00

What is Lavendar?

Lavender is an evergreen shrub with pale green leaves with violet flowers.

When does Lavendar grows?

In the summer the lavender plant blooms with highly scented flowers: its narrow leaves are extremely fragrant.

Where can you find Lavendar?

Lavender can be found in the Mediterranean, Bulgaria, France and England.

How is Lavendar oil prepared?

Lavender’s essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from its flowers.

What are the characteristics or distinct features of Lavendar oil?

The oil has a light floral aroma and is used for its anticonvulsive, antitoxic, decongestant, deodorant and stimulant properties.

A blend approach of Lavendar in aromatheraphy?

When used in aromatherapy is it often blended with bergamot, Clary sage, jasmine, lemon and rose to prepare many mixtures for many different ailments.

The magic of rose water

2005-12-30T02:30:00.000-08:00

Have you tried to make your life a bed of roses?

The title seems to be indifferent to you? Don't think so much dear let me tell you the magic of rose and rose water then you will surely tell me ahh yes something magical is there in my words and thinking.

It's after all my applied knowledge and trial which I have carried on rose water and seen a drastic change in my day-to-day life.

Life is hectic ..it is also full of noise and pollution ..then what one can do in order to soothe and have a short sweet nap but what about your precious eyes. Are they ithching?? is your head paining oh god a hell lot of problems ..But you don't worry just follow the sweet rosy guidelines and you will really say me hey now my life is a bed of roses.

Follow these simple things:-

All of us know what roses are and from where to buy real roses. If not you can surely browse the net and find out. These are sold at leading flourists shops and even small retailers dealing in flower business sell the same.
Rose has healing and cooling powers so in order to get benefits from the same one must prepare or else buy rose water.
Now the question is from where to buy rose water? - You must be very careful when purchasing rose water to buy only the 100% pure form. Often what is available in pharmacies and even some natural food stores is synthetic rose oil and water with preservatives added. Pure rose water is the distilled water of roses. It is usually made by stream distillation, and it smells heavenly and tastes delicious. The best place which I know is haldhigathi where roses are grown and all rose products are sold . You can even buy online if you want.
If you want to prepare rose water what all you must do? the method of preparing rose water is as listed below:-

Rose Water -Preparation Method :-

This recipe is the more traditional way to prepare rose water. Though it's a little more involved, its fun to do and the results are outstanding. You can make a quart of excellent-quality rose water in about 40 minutes. However, if you simmer the water too long, you will continue to produce distilled water but the rose essence will become diluted. Your rose water will smell more like plain distilled water, rather than the heavenly scent of roses.

Be sure you have a brick and heat-safe stainless steel or glass quart bowl ready before you begin.

Ingredients:
2-3 quarts fresh roses or rose petals
water
ice cubes or crushed ice
Method:

1. In the center of a large pot (the speckled blue canning pots are ideal) with an inverted lid (a rounded lid), place a fireplace brick. On top of the brick place the bowl. Put the roses in the pot; add enough flowers to reach the top of the brick. Pour in just enough water to cover the roses. The water should be just above the top of the brick.

2. Place the lid upside down on the pot. Turn on the stove and bring the water to a rolling boil, then lower heat to a slow steady simmer. As soon as the water begins to boil, toss two or three trays of ice cubes (or a bag of ice) on top of the lid.

3. You've now created a home still! As the water boils the steam rises, hits the top of the cold lid, and condenses. As it condenses it flows to the center of the lid and drops into the bowl. Every twenty minutes, quickly lift the lid and take out a tablespoon or two of the rose water. It's time to stop when you have between a pint and a quart of water that smells and tastes strongly like roses.

** I have still more to write about magic of rose water and it's usages...

Pamper yourself with natural things

2005-12-30T02:07:00.000-08:00

Personal care and hygiene

Bored with everyday bath soaps? Don't worry at all here is a conventional and healthy way out pick up nature's own caring products for your body and pamper yourself and feel fresh.

I have tried the following and found a great change in myself..

Orange Bath

Yeah!! It's a natural way to care yourself. Just do the following and you will see results just wonderful.

Take a small/medium size orange fruit and side by side keep ready hot/lukewarm water for your bath.
Peel off the orange and add those peels in the hot water, make small pieces of those peels if as per your choice.
Sweet fragrance of orange will make you feel fresh and ready for a orange bath.
aha! Now you must be wondering what about those oranges yeah now just squeeze in those oranges in a small container with your hand and keep aside the scrap.
Use that orange juice for your face and you will find a difference in your face which will flow and look fresh as you wanted.
Don't throw away the otange peels use them as bath scrub while you apply soap to your body. It is one of the best scrub which I felt. It really works!!
Orange is best for those who have oily skin so you oily skinned people just see what a best and economical substitute you have rather than buying those creams and face packs and what not.
The same process I tried and you may also go ahead and try the same.

Special Tip for the next time:- Use large juicy lemon instead of orange next time and have a lemony fresh look on your face.

Facts about essential oils

2005-12-30T01:54:00.000-08:00

Knowning Essential Oils Closely

Natural Essential Oils which are extracted from plants, described as their- "life force' is a vital element of the plants" biological functioning and is the substance which gives them their scent. These Oils are extracted from spices, herbs, flowers, stems, barks and fibres by distillation- a process by which all the impurities are removed and condensation is carried out, and solvent extraction.

Essential Oils are sold in small bottles and their quality and price can vary based on rarity of the plant, the country of cultivation, quality of distilling, etc.

Essential Oils can be purchased individually or as a blend of several different Oils.

Important Facts :-

**"Perfume or Fragrance Oils are different from Essential Oils" :-
They are usually manufactured using synthetic chemicals and do not provide the same effect of Essential Oils.

**"Carrier Oils" :- which are also referred to as Base Oils or Vegetable Oils, are used to dilute Essential Oils. They are used to carry the Essential Oil onto the skin. Carrier Oils do not evaporate or impart their aroma. They must be natural and unadulterated (except those with Vitamin E) and can go rancid easily.

Some popular Carrier Oils are Sweet Almond Oil, Borage, Cocoa Butter, Evening Primprose, Hazelnut, Apricot Kernel Oil, Wheatgerm Oil and Grapeseed Oil.

Get familiar to the essential oils

2005-12-30T01:13:00.000-08:00

Essential oils

An "essential oil" is a substance in a liquid form that is generally evaoporated and subsequent collection of that liquid is done by condensation as a means of purification and thus all the impurities are removed in this process which in scientific terms is known as "distillation" which is done from the natural substances namely; leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant.

Essential oils, contrary to the use of the word "oil" are not really oily-feeling or greasy feeling at all. Most essential oils are clear or see-through, but some oils such as "patchouli"- which is a small southeast Asian shrub (Pogostemon cablin) in the mint family, having leaves that yield a fragrant oil used in the manufacture of perfumes, orange and lemongrass are amber or yellow in color.

Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant from which they are prepared. Essential oils are highly concentrated and a drop or two is more than enough.

There are as many as 90 essential oils in aromatheraphy which can be studied properly and used accordingly as per various uses ranging from emotiona well-being, mental well-being, massage purposes, respiratory purposes, scents, oils for good sleep and so on the list is endless.

"An introduction to aromatherapy"

2005-12-21T04:06:00.000-08:00

What is aromatherapy?

The word aromatherapy has been originated from the simple english dictionary word "aroma" which means sweet scented odor or fragrance coming from some flower or any other source having such characteristics.

Well, now speaking further about the word "therapy" which simply means healing power or quality or some kind of treatment.

So, let us now combine both the words aroma and theraphy together we get the sweet word "aromatherapy" of which we will learn, explore and know much better step by step in order to know about this wonderful alternative branch of science which deals with essential oils which are found in herbs, plants,flowers,fruits and the bark,roots or resin of some tress.